The mission of the Alliance for Animals is to promote animal protection, foster the human-animal bond, raise the status of animals and animal caretakers throughout the community, and provide direct rescue, adoption, and affordable veterinary services for the public, targeting in particular inner-city Boston, and poor, elderly, disabled, and homeless pet owners.

When we take care of animals we take care of people

Our commitment to our human population is to provide low-cost veterinary services so that everyone in our inner-city community will be able to obtain basic care for their pets. Our principle is that basic health care and the opportunity to share life with a companion animal should be available to all, and not restricted only to the wealthiest members of society.

Our Commitment to our animal population is to eliminate suffering and promote well-being in various ways:

Provide spay/neuter all pet owners can afford in order to eliminate pet overpopulation - the number one killer of companion animals in America

Provide spay/neuter/ear tipping for feral cats - the number one contributor to overpopulation and suffering for cats

Provide veterinary services all pet owners can afford - to keep animals alive and in their homes

Promote the human-animal bond, and work to raise the status of animals so that they become less 'discardable',and their rights more highly regarded - to prevent animal suffering, abuse, and neglect

Help people learn how to take better care of their animals by educating them about animal health and behavior - to prevent abandonment and euthanasia of animals

Future Goals

Our future goals include identifying a suitable inner-city site for a permanent location which will provide space for a Dog Adoption Center, Cat Adoption Center, Full-Service Veterinary Clinic, and activity areas for programs directed toward inner city kids and families.

Another goal for the future is to secure land in order to establish a sanctuary for older or less adoptable companion animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses.

Our History

The Alliance for Animals was established in 1988 by a small group of animal advocates dedicated to bringing humane education and affordable veterinary services to inner city Boston. For Boston's poor, elderly, and disabled the Alliance serviced as a lifeline, bringing services directly to the neighborhoods - neighborhoods and people who had never been helped before. The Alliance soon became an integral part of the neighborhoods, a familiar face and trusted resource throughout the city.

In addition to bringing services to the people, Alliance brought life-saving rescue to the animals of Boston. Like too many of their human counterparts, the animals of inner-city Boston faced lives of loneliness and despair, where little help was available, and no one outside the city even noticed. Then Alliance came; loving hands reached out to help, and people made sure someone did notice those who languished on the city streets.

Since 1988 the Alliance for Animals has gone from that handful of volunteers working from their homes, to a vibrant organization staffed by veterinarians, technicians, administrative workers, and volunteers. Since 1988 the Alliance for Animals has spayed/neutered and provided other veterinary services for approximately 60.000 animals with the help of Alliance's Metro Action Clinic in South Boston. The Alliance has also rescued and secured permanent, loving homes for another 4,500 cats and dogs who had no chance except for the open arms of the Alliance - open to those society left behind, the abandoned animals of the inner city. With the continued help of members and supporters throughout the state and the country, the Alliance plans to continue its innovative programs for the humans and animals of the urban environment.

Take Route 93 North to Exit 16 (Andrew Square). At the end of the ramp, turn RIGHT onto Southhampton Street. This will take you into Andrew Square, a large 5-way street intersection. Dunkin' Donuts will be on your left. Go through the intersection, taking a soft LEFT on Dorchester Street (not a hard left onto Dorchester Avenue). Continue straight on Dorchester Street, across Old Colony Avenue, and by numbered streets. Take LEFT onto Silver Street (Silver Street is a narrow, one-way street between West Fouth Street and West Browadway). Follow Silver Street two blocks, see Metro Action Clinic on right, just before the corner of E Street -- a brick building with a green door. Our sign is in the window. You may park on E Street or West Broadway.

From the North

Take Route 93 South to exit 20 (Mass. Pike, Albany Street), immediately after the South Station Tunnel. Keep to the LEFT on the ramp (follow signs for "local, Albany Street", not Mass. Pike). Go straight through the first set of lights at the end of the exit ramp. At your next set of lights, make a left under the 93 on-ramp to go over the Broadway Bridge. (There's a sign there that says "Broadway Bridge, South Boston.) Once across the bridge go straight through the next set of lights to get on West Broadway. Follow West Broadway to the end (approx. 8 blocks or three sets of lights) to Perkins Square. Make a RIGHT onto Dorchester Street, then take your first RIGHT onto Silver Street, a narrow, one-way street. 232 Silver Street is two blocks down on your right, a brick building with a gray door, just before E Street.

From the West

Take the Mass. Pike to the end, and get onto Route 93 (Expressway) South. Take the very first exit (only about 100 feet) - ``Albany Street'' and follow directions as in north above.

Public Transportation (MBTA)

Take the Red Line to Broadway Station. Exit onto West Broadway (away from downtown). Go about six blocks and turn RIGHT onto E street, the LEFT at the next corner onto Silver Street, a narrow, unmarked street. We are on the left, a brick building with a green door. (Or you can take the #9 bus from Broadway Station to E Street.)

Take #9 City Point Bus which runs between Copley Square and City Point, get off at Broadway, and follow above directions from Broadway Station .

Take #10 bus which runs between Copley Square and City Point via Andrew Square. Get off on Dorchester Street, across from Silver Street (Thornton Flower Shop is on corner). Cross the street and proceed down Silver Street as in directions above from north.